Black History Month serves as a mirror of the current political climate, so what steps can we take to refresh it?
We are in Black History Month in the Britain, and it seems it’s time for a rethink. Over the years, an event that began as a celebration and reminder of heritage, traditions and links between global Black communities, has developed a commercial tone, broadening to incorporate functions where individuals of African heritage are compensated to talk to Caucasian groups about hidden biases and “allyship”. The anti-racism rallies of the last decade created a surge in the business of displaying cultural sensitivity. Yet, that phase is now over. The tide has peaked, producing a diluted aftermath of what promoting consciousness is for.
The Origins of Black History Observance
Initially celebrated in the America and its northern neighbor, Black History Month was conceived in 1962 as an observance of African American heritage by historian of African descent Carter G. Woodson with multiple days of remembrance and recognition in the February's second week. Black History Month evolved from this movement and was publicly established in 1970. Today it is observed not only in the US and Canada in February, but also in October in the United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands.
The month has evolved since that time, giving reduced attention to the accounts of colonial slavery and fights for racial justice, and greater focus on notable African descendants in public life, creative fields, and advocacy, and broadly celebrating the input Black people have made to shape the country. It is in educational institutions where Black History Month is most commonly celebrated, with talks and cultural events. But the way the observance is celebrated is a indication of the current political situation. How it progresses is a instructive case in how co-option leads to erosion: the reshaping of Black History Month has stymied the purpose of it, which is to tackle systemic and institutional racism.
A Jarring Moment
Little demonstrates how critical it is to rethink Black History Month better than the specific period in which it takes place this year. In the UK, a reemerging right-wing in the guise of the Reform political group is leading the polls. In the recent season we saw the biggest extreme right demonstration in the history of Britain. Kemi Badenoch, the African descendant in charge of the Conservative party, is a firm opponent of the racial justice movement, and we are in a position where a elected representative feels emboldened to declare that “not seeing any white faces” in certain urban areas is a reason for concern. Meanwhile, far-right parties are surging in Europe as a entirety.
In the United States, a significant offensive against DEI and affirmative action has been carried, often successfully, to the supreme judicial bodies of the nation. A drive to remove Black history and experience from the historical documents is in progress. One of the political figure's initial presidential directives focused on the museum of African American legacy, and the Smithsonian Institution, accusing them of a coordinated and broad attempt to alter the country's historical narrative” by portraying America “as naturally discriminatory”.
Against this backdrop, the month illustrates how little it can be impactful if it is confined to either obligatory business commemorations, or stripped of political content festivities of contributions in the past, rather than addressing the conditions of the contemporary world. It also shows how its limited duration means that it is detached from the broader ongoing work that is required. A university professor, a educator at an educational institution, articulated it most accurately when she expressed apprehension about the short-term symbolic gestures of the observance. “The difficulty with embracing a superficial method”, she stated, “is that it often means that Black History Month turns into a fleeting performance rather than a agent of progress.”
Reconsidering, Not Discarding
Determining how to adapt, revise and extend initiatives for racial equality and recognition in such times of discouragement and concern is a treacherous thing. There is a urge to just eliminate observances such as Black History Month completely, assuming they are no longer suitable, or are relics of an time that has not worked.
Yet, in spite of all this, Black History Month, and in fact the whole broad system and tradition of racial movements – community-based BLM initiatives, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and yes, even those talks to businesses – form an foundation that a significant effort has been dedicated to. It is there not only to deteriorate as the political landscape shifts (and in fact, declines), but to be a dynamic entity.
So what would a new dynamic Black History Month appear as? To begin with, it would be more than a single focused period: something that is distributed across all seasons (as various establishments are already beginning to do), sections of its curriculum (particularly around prominent figures of color) integrated into educational programs. It would also be a period that does not shy away from political issues, and allows opportunity for individuals, particularly young people, to express their concerns and stories. What value has mere awareness of the bygone era when it fails to address the present reality of extreme conservative demonstrations in the urban areas? Organizations who mark it should not be reassured with the passive language of implicit prejudice and awareness of “microaggressions”, but confronted with the dangers that affect everyone if opposition to discrimination is not approached earnestly. To summarize, Black History Month should be made current, pressing, and reactive. Perhaps an total re-identification is necessary – Present-Day African Heritage Celebration.
